Amidst the ongoing questioning of top officials from the mining company CMRL, the CPI(M) in Kerala seems to have acknowledged the looming possibility of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan, being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
MV Govindan, the Secretary of Kerala CPI(M), responded emphatically to queries regarding Veena's IT firm, Exalogic, coming under ED scrutiny and her eventual interrogation. "Why make a fuss when the ED operates akin to the BJP-led government's mafia? With a Chief Minister already in custody, questioning someone seems trivial. It's evident that the Centre is leveraging its agencies," remarked Govindan.
Interestingly, Govindan's statement followed CM Vijayan's abrupt termination of a press conference upon facing a similar question about his daughter.
The ED's interrogation of officials from the Kochi-based mining company extended into its third day on Wednesday. Despite receiving two notices, CMD Sasidharan Kartha is yet to comply, while the agency has grilled three staff members and a former employee.
Veena's predicament began when Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan raised the issue last year, citing a media report alleging that "Vijayan's daughter Veena's IT firm, Exalogic, received Rs 1.72 crore from the mining company CMRL, wherein the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) holds approximately 13 percent stake."
The activities of national agencies seem to have intensified following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mention of corruption involving CM Vijayan and his daughter during election rallies in the state.
It appears imminent that Veena will receive an ED notice, with the only uncertainty being whether it will occur before April 26, when Kerala heads to the polls to elect 20 new Lok Sabha members.
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